Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s tens team scores a massive win against Moree

It’s still only early, but Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s tens side is looking the goods as it leads the 2023 Central North Rugby Union ladder following a huge win over the Moree Bulls.

The Blue Boars made the journey up the Newell Highway to Weebolla Oval for the round four clash where they went head-to-head with Moree to add to a rivalry that is steeped in history.

The Narrabri ladies got the job done as they outscored the home side 66-5 to earn a bonus point victory.

The visitors ran in 10 tries during a dominant performance and almost converted all of them as they slotted eight goals to add 16 extra points.

They only conceded one try after they had already piled on more than 40 points and the result was already wrapped up.

Abbey Anderson, Peta Cox and April Smith all bagged doubles for the Blue Boars side in that win and the other four tries were shared between Bella Cruickshank, Natalia McInnes, Shona McFarland and Toni Gale. Gale also slotted seven conversions and McFarland scored one as well.

Narrabri Rugby Club president and women’s team coach Mick Coffey had challenged his side to improve after a rusty first game of the season in round three, and he told The Courier that he was impressed with the way the girls responded.

“I was really impressed with the performance,” he said.

“I said to them there afterwards that out of 40 minutes of rugby I thought that we played 35 minutes of really good rugby and the last five minutes of the third quarter was absolute rubbish.

“We addressed that at the break though and they did exactly what I asked of them. They brought it home with a really strong final quarter.

“I’m very happy with what was our second game of the year. It was a big improvement on the week before.

“We will continue to build.”

Coffey said that the side’s fellow co-coach and captain Peta Cox led by example throughout the contest and added that in a team full of brilliant performances, Anderson, McFarland and Chelsea Hancock were the side’s top performers.

He also commended one of the Blue Boars’ young stars, Bella Cruickshank, who is absolutely thriving in a new position this year.

“Bella continues to impress at halfback,” Coffey said.

“Last year we had her pigeonholed as a winger or fullback, but she’s really making it difficult for anyone to take that number nine jersey off her.

“She’s communicating well, she’s organising, and she’s got good vision.

“It’s exciting to watch her progress.”

There were two other women’s tens matches played in round four, which saw Pirates score a 103-0 victory over Barraba, and Gunnedah edge out the Quirindi Lionesses 29-27.

Like Narrabri, the two other winning teams were victorious on the road, while Inverell and Scone both had byes in round four.

The Blue Boars are the only side to have earned a maximum 20 points this season as they sit atop the ladder.

Gunnedah is one point behind and are the only other undefeated side in the women’s competition following four rounds of rugby.

Narrabri will play its third game of the season this Saturday in round five when it hosts Quirindi at Dangar Park.

Meanwhile, the Narrabri Blue Boars went down 40-21 in second grade in round four and were then thumped 52-14 in first grade.